Fuse-cap package.



P. WHEELER.

FUSE CAP PACKAGE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. I9I3.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

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BLUZMER WHEELER, OF ALTOIL ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORTDO- THE UNION, CA]? & FUSE. GOIVLBANY, 07F CLEVELAND, 01-110, A GORIPOBI'A'JIION OF NEW JERSEY.

FUSE-GAP PACKAGE;

Specification of Letters Batent.

Application filed: October. 20, 1913'. Serial N0.,'7 96,096;

T all a 710m it may. concern Be it known that I, PLUMER HnnLnR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Alton, county of Madison, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fuse-Cap Packages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to waterproof safety packages for fuse caps containing fulminate of mercury, or other explosive.

The object of the invention is a package which not only will keep the fuse caps from deteriorating in damp surroundings, but also will provide a safe and convenient means for handling the fuse caps,

T 0 these ends, the invention consists in a strip of wood or other suitable material formed with a series of cells each adapted to receive a single fuse capand provided with a moisture-proof closure or seal for the open end of the fuse cap, and separately detachable means for retaining the fuse caps in their respective cells whereby they may be removed one by one without breaking the seals of the remaining fuse caps.

Further objects and details of the invention appear in connection with thefollowing description of the specific embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing. WVhat constitutes the invention is particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which the same parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fuse cap package embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the top covering removed, some of the fuse caps being partly broken away the better to disclose the construction; Fig. 3 is a front side view of the fuse cap package shown in Fig. 1, the front covering being removed; Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the same on the line 4-4: in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of t 'e same showing the manner of removing a fuse cap; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of fuse cap package.

Referring to the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the package comprises a block 11 of a width and thickness slightly in excess of the length and diameter, respectively, of a fuse cap or detonator 12 such as is in common use by miners and others for exploding dynamite cartridges and other high explosives. These fuse caps are cylindrical shells ofcopper having one=end closed, and partly filled with a detonatingsubstance 13. The block 11 has formed in its upper face a series of parallel grooves 1 1, each ofa width and depth corresponding to the diameter of the fuse cap. A saw cut 15 in the bottom of each groove crosswise of the block nearly severs theblock at each groove. One endof each groove is closed by a. seal 16' of plastic material, such as beeswax. A compound consisting of beeswax and ceresin makes a satisfactorysealing mixture. The fuse caps are arranged in the grooves and theopen ends of the caps are forced into the sealing mixture, which is. hard enough to hold the fuse caps from shaking about in the grooves and also keeps their contents, dry. The opposite ends of the grooves 14:v are closed by a strip 1S of cartridge paper,iblotting paper or other heavy soft material for safeguarding the closed ends of the fuse caps from shock. Suitable paper 17 is wrapped around the block 11 and strip 18, completely incasing the block and fuse caps. Waterproof paper may be used for this wrapping or the wrapping may be made waterproof by shellacking or other means.

To remove the fuse cap, the blaster breaks the outer paper wrapping lengthwise of the end groove with his thumb nail and then breaks off the end wall of the groove, thus exposing the fuse cap. The operation is performed without the use of a ack-knife or other implement, thus lessening the danger of detonating the cap by a spark or by percussion. Moreover, as no loose fulminate or other explosive filling can sift out of the fuse caps, the danger of accidental detonation is lessened.

The package illustrated in Fig. 6 is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, except that the block is not cut across the bottoms of the grooves. Access to the cells containing the fuse caps is by tearing the covering 19 from over the grooves. The covering is pasted securely to the top and sides of the block, and is provided with tabs 20 at the ends of the grooves for facilitating its removal from over the grooves. The tabs may be omitted if desired.

From the above description, it is apparent that a fuse cap package embodying my invention provides a convenient and safe means for transporting and handling the fuse caps, and keeps them dry, even after the package is opened, until the last oneis used.

I claim as my invention as follows:

1. A moisture proof package for open ended fuse caps, said package comprising a container having back and side Walls and an open front, a removable covering for said front, and a sealing mixture molded in said container along one edge thereof for sealing the open ends of fuse caps arranged in said container and for holding them in position therein.

2. A moisture proof package for open ended fuse caps, said package consisting of a rigid container having an exposed side and an exposed end, means for closing said side and end, and Wax at the end opposite said exposed end for sealing the open ends of fuse caps arranged in said container and for holding them in position therein.

3. A moisture-proof package for openended fuse caps, said package consisting of a block provided With a series of cells, a sealing mixture at one end of each of said cells "adapted to plug and seal the open ends of fuse caps positioned therein, and means for exposing said fuse caps independently for removal from said cells.

4. A- moisture-proof package for open- Copiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Ilatents ended fuse caps, said package consisting of a block provided With a series of cells, a sealing mixture at one end of each of said cells adapted to plug and seal the open ends of fuse caps positioned therein, and means for exposing said fuse caps for removal from said cells. a

5. In a moisture-proof package for openended fuse caps, a series of cells, and means for positioning the fuse caps in the cells and for sealing their open ends.

6. In a moisture-proof package for open ended fuse caps, means for positioning the fuse caps in the package and for sealing their open ends comprising a mixture of sealing Wax and ceresin.

7 In a moisture-proof package for openended fuse caps, a series of cells, Wax seals for positioning the fuse caps in the cells and for sealing their open ends, and means for severing the cells independently from the package.

Signed at St. Louis, Mo, this 17th day of October, 1913.

PLUMER WHEELER.

lVitnesses: 'A. M. HoLooMBE,

M. A. SHELTON.

Washington, D. C. 

